Rex Pflueger added a career-high 19 points and T.J. Gibbs matched him with 19 after a poor-shooting first half (2 of 12) as Mike Brey's Irish (15-10, 5-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their second straight after losing seven in a row.

C.J. Walker had 16 points, Phil Cofer, 12 and P.J. Savoy, 11 — all in the first half — for the Seminoles (17-8, 6-7 ACC), who lost their second straight and left coach Leonard Hamilton still seeking his 500th career victory.

Both teams struggled shooting early — Florida State went 5½ minutes...

Back at full strength, Georgia Tech is starting to find its groove.
Without two of its best players, Notre Dame is trying to hold on.
Josh Okogie scored 17 points and Georgia Tech snapped Notre Dame's five-game winning streak, beating the depleted...

North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts saw his team respond to a pair of double-digit Atlantic Coast Conference losses with a fearless style and aggressive play. And for the second time this season, it was good enough for the Wolfpack to take down the...

Digger Phelps sat at his normal spot on press row at Purcell Pavilion on Saturday for Notre Dame’s game against Georgia Tech.
The legendary former Irish coach joked with official Ted Valentine during a stop in the action. He chatted with other people...

Notre Dame All-America forward Bonzie Colson is expected to miss eight weeks after suffering a left foot fracture, the school announced Tuesday.
The injury occurred during practice this week, according to the school. He is scheduled to undergo surgery...

The numbers are hard for even Sylvia Hatchell to take in.
She has become the third women's Division I coach to net her 1,000th career victory.
Hatchell reached the milestone Tuesday after her North Carolina Tar Heels beat Grambling State 79-63. She is...

Once upon a time — like, say, over the summer — there were serious questions across the Piedmont as to how Clemson, newly crowned as national champions, would replace Deshaun Watson, the Georgia kid who became a South Carolina legend as the Tigers...

It’s that time of year.
Time when college football lovers revel in what’s ahead — in this case, the greatest championship weekend ever, with five games all matching top-12 teams. And also time when suggestions fly for how to improve the sport.
The...

Last year the Big Ten lost the Big Ten-ACC Challenge for the first time since 2008 after five wins and two ties. The 19th edition of the conference showdown starts Monday, and the Big Ten should get back on top.
The Challenge will feature some...

Bonzie Colson played only one minute in Notre Dame’s first four ACC games as a freshman in 2014-15.
With Zach Auguste unavailable because of an academic matter, the Irish needed Colson’s services in the fifth game, a trip to Georgia Tech.
The...

When LSU's Ed Orgeron matter of factly declared the SEC as "the best conference in the United States," he was mostly preaching to the choir in the league's backyard.
But the Southeastern Conference's once-undisputed status as college football's top...

The NCAA has suspended Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino for five Atlantic Coast Conference games following its sex scandal investigation.
The governing body also Thursday placed the basketball program on four years' probation, vacated wins in...

Late last week, Fox Sports announcer Tim Brando told the "Louisville Sports Live" podcast that Notre Dame has had conversations about its football team joining the ACC as a full member. On Tuesday, Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick shot that down.
...

The Atlantic Coast Conference started the NCAA tournament as the most rewarded league by the selection committee with nine teams in the field.
It was no surprise as the conference was frequently called the best in the nation this season.
But one by one,...

Get to know No. 1
North Carolina (27-7, RPI 5, SOS 11)
The Tar Heels are the controversial top seed this year. They lost to Duke two out of three times, including in the ACC tournament semifinals. But North Carolina has 11 top-50 victories as it aims to...

Published in Chicago Tribune on March 13, 2017 — Print headline: "South"

Bonzie Colson had 21 points and 10 rebounds and No. 22 Notre Dame beat No. 21 Virginia for the first time since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, topping the Cavaliers 71-58 on Thursday night to reach the tournament semifinals.
The third-seeded...

Luke Kennard made two clutch jumpers in the final 2:04 to help No. 14 Duke thwart a rally by Clemson and advance to the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with a 79-72 victory Wednesday in New York.
The fifth-seeded Blue Devils...